There are many questions
surrounding the stay of execution of of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was
sentenced for his involvement in the 1995 assassination of Beant Singh — the
former chief minister of Punjab who spear headed the genocide against Sikhs in
the region. But Rajoana’s sentence has since been stayed.

Beant Singh gave police
officers the authority to carry-out extrajudicial executions, targeting and
killing civilian Sikhs on the spot. This led to fake “encounter” killings,
illegal detention, torture and rape. Beginning in 1984, and continuing until
his assassination, an estimated 9,000-30,000 Sikhs were murdered in Punjab.
During Beant Singh’s reign, thousands of Sikhs were killed for being
“suspicious,” despite claims that there were only approximately 300 armed
Nationalist Sikhs. After the death of Beant Singh in 1995, the senseless
murders of Sikhs stopped.

Why is the Sikh population
displaying insurmountable support and rallying to stop the execution of
Rajoana, who many consider a terrorist? The fact of the matter is that Sikhs do
not support terrorists or terrorism, but are looking for equal treatment and
justice in the so-called secular democracy known as India.

Sikhs and Muslims are
minorities in India and are often jailed without a court hearing, not allowed
to fight their cases, given more severe penalties than their non-Sikh inmates,
and given longer jail terms and intentionally delayed sentences.

In 1984, tens of thousands of
Sikhs were killed in riots in Delhi that were believed to be led by accused
Indian politicians Kumar and Tytler, but due to “technicalities,” their cases
have been stayed. These riots happened almost 30 years ago, but these people
are allowed to walk free. In 2003, accused politician Modi, started riots that
led to the killings of thousands of Muslims in Gujarat. To this day, he walks
free.

The minority Sikhs have long
been oppressed by the Indian government. Corruption and discrimination have
plagued Rajoana’s case and, as a result, there has been an outcry for justice.
It is often said that there is no justice for Sikh prisoners in India. By
displaying their support for Rajoana, Sikhs are expressing their desire that a
single standard be applied to all people in India. Rajoana has always accepted
responsibility for his crime and refused an appeal. He accepts the death
penalty. People are simply arguing that the government should not hang Rajoana,
until they hang other people who have committed similar crimes — to show the
same commitment to human rights and the rule of law when the Indian state, its
forces, its bureaucrats and its politicians commit heinous crimes against
humanity.

The inconsistencies are too
harsh to ignore. Kishori Lal, the “Butcher of Trilokpuri,” was released
following three death sentences for going on a Sikh murdering spree in 1984.
Today, many police officers and politicians who committed human rights
violations and were involved in the Sikh genocide live freely and have worked
their way up the political ladder. It appears the only fate for a Sikh political
prisoner is the hangman’s noose.

There are numerous other
legitimate reasons why Rajoana should not be executed:

There are 2 other Sikh men who were involved in the killing, their
trials are still pending (conveniently still in jail and awaiting fair
trial for 17 years). So how can one man be hung when the other cases are
not officially over.

There is an ongoing explosives case on Rajoana in Patiala Court;
the Advocate General can issue a writ to the court to suspend the hanging
until the pending case is solved.

Rajoana was not the actual murderer of Beant Singh (the murderer
died in the bombing); he was a conspirator. So why is he being executed
after spending 17 years in jail?

You must ask yourself, are
these these actions consistent with the values of a liberal democracy? Would
you not be upset? This is precisely why the Sikh population around the world is
joining hands and supporting Rajoana. To us, Rajoana is a freedom fighter whose
intent was not to kill innocents, but rather criminals, and to bring justice to
Punjab. If someone had successfully killed Hitler, would that man be considered
a terrorist? Maybe by Hitler supporters.

When All Hopes of addressing a
wrong had failed, Rajoana was left with no alternative. He did what the Indian
government failed, or chose not, to do: He stopped the violence in Punjab!
Rajoana and others took matters into their own hands, took down a tyrant and
allowed the state of Punjab to live in peace. If you wish to try Rajoana and hang
him, you must hand down the same sentence to the many other men
who murdered Sikhs in cold blood. I am a Sikh and we do not support terrorism.

The Sikhs of Canada and around the world support
Rajoana for ridding the world of an evil man. The population would not be
opposed to the death penalty handed out to Rajoana, had the others been tried
just as equally.

#IPledgeOrange #Rajoana

end abuses of human rights

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Who is Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana?

Sentenced to capital punishment in the case of murder of former Chief Minister Beant Singh was to be hanged on 31st of March 2012 at Patiala. With pressure from Sikhs worldwide this has been put on hold for now.

Bhai Sahib Balwant Singh, a constable, was a close friend of Shaheed Dilawar Singh, a serving police officer in the Punjab Police who on 31 August, 1995 assissinated the then Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh.

Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana had “openly confessed” an involvement and strongly expressed no faith in Indian judiciary. He refused to defend himself in the court and accepted the sentence. He accused Indian courts for applying dual standards of law and accused Indian system for shielding culprits of Sikh genocide 1984.

In his will, Bhai Balwant Singh expressed desire that his eyes should be transplanted to Hazoori Ragi of Darbar Sahib, visually impaired Bhai Lakhwinder Singh.

He was recently blessed with Amrit, where an Amrit Sanchar was especially organised for Bhai Sahib by the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib.